Youth Economic Summit addresses high rate of unemployment
The summit attracted young people from all around Ekurhuleni who got the opportunity to showcase their businesses.
To curb the high unemployment rate in South Africa, the Ekurhuleni metro partnered with private sectors to create internship opportunities, as well as providing skills to up-and-coming entrepreneurs.
The metro held a four-day Ekurhuleni Youth Economic Summit and career expo which took place at the Birchwood Hotel and Conference Centre from June 12 to 15.
Motivational speakers from government and private sector shared their challenges and how they overcame them.
Deputy Minister of Tourism Elizabeth Thabethe on her address highlighted that as a department they are learning from other countries such as China and India on their levels of entrepreneurship and investment in technical skills.
Dr Thibane motivating young people at the Ekurhuleni Youth Economic Summit @BoksburgNews pic.twitter.com/7jDVxHrpSr
— Ntombi Sibeko (@CharityNtombza) June 15, 2018
“As the department, we have skills training programmes for youth with placement with more than 12 000 youth who benefitted.
“We have a national youth chef training programme which is a three-year national diploma. People with a passion for cooking can access our application form on our website. Our third programme is the hospitality youth training programme which is completed over 12 months in all the provinces, training youth on operations in tourism and hospitality,” Thabethe said.
Young entrepreneurs also had an opportunity to pitch their businesses to the Lions’ Den panel of judges who listened to about 80 ambitious young people.
The Lions’ Den Programme develops the youth’s entrepreneurial skills through training and information sharing.
One of the judges, Sibongile Shongwe from the Southern African Business Technology Incubation Association (SABTIA), said: “Out of the 80 young people we choose three as winners solely based on their unique business idea, market research, how fast they can grow their businesses into other areas and their ability to capture their audience with their business concept.”
The winners walked away with laptops and cellphones and they will be part of a business mentorship programme.
Refilwe Chokoe who was chosen as a winner from Kempton Park runs a company called Savara Advisory.
The company specialises in international trade, research and business development.
They link small businesses in South Africa to opportunities that exist in the global market.
Ernest Mongezi is the first one to pitch to the Lions Den judges for the last time to sell his product. @BoksburgNews @City_Ekurhuleni pic.twitter.com/BbMWm8Tehj
— Ntombi Sibeko (@CharityNtombza) June 15, 2018
“I am so excited, I am actually out of words. I nearly didn’t come today because I didn’t think I’ll win.
“What stood out throughout the summit was the presentation on how to increase sales and market in business,” Chokoe said.
10 out of 80 young people who pitched their businesses to The Lions Den judges yesterday have been choosen to go head-to-head with one another @BoksburgNews @City_Ekurhuleni #EkurhuleniYouthEconomicSummit #BirchwoodHotel pic.twitter.com/AYba2F8dyS
— Ntombi Sibeko (@CharityNtombza) June 15, 2018
